Professional associations for professional development

You’re an excellent career services professional. Students write you thank you notes for helping them, and your contacts at companies always take your calls. You enjoy the support and collegiality of your peers at work. Sites like the new Answers forum on internships.com have given you access to a huge community of educators. You can also build and develop your professional network by joining national organizations that help you increase your effectiveness and maintain your competitive edge in a fast-growing industry.

Most people know NACE and the regional affiliates (MWACE, SoACE, EACE, MPACE) as great places to meet career service professionals and corporate recruiters. But there are a host of other great opportunities for meeting and learning from your peers.

National Career Development Association (NCDA) is similar in focus to NACE, but often attracts a more diverse audience of independent career professionals and those who work with younger and older people looking for career advice. NCDA has an annual conference, a newsletter, and other similar member benefits.

Career Management Alliance (formerly Career Masters Institute) is dedicated to linking all divisions within the careers industry. The Alliance attracts members from assorted career backgrounds, such as career coaching and counseling, college and university career development, government careers, outplacement, recruiting, and HR. It offers interactive seminars, weekly e-newsletters, and e-discussion groups. Visit its Web site at careermanagementalliance.com.

Career Coach Academy was designed by a career-services professional and ICF Certified Coach with other career services professionals in mind—job-search specialists, resume writers, outplacement providers, and career counselors. The Academy’s program is fast track, providing the opportunity to be a Certified Career Management Coach. Benefits include interactive teleclasses, coaching practice, and a 400-page manual.